Dáil Sketch/ Michael O'Regan: Brian Cowen famously remarked to Fianna Fáil ardfheis delegates in the early 1990s that if the Soldiers of Destiny were in doubt, they could leave their government PD colleagues out. The special relationship was soon to end.
He did not quite go that far yesterday, but he was clearly in no mood to defend Liz O'Donnell's blistering attack on the Catholic Church when he took the Order of Business in the Dáil.
The former PD minister of state for foreign affairs, who on Wednesday called for an end to the special relationship between church and State, was not in the House. Indeed, the only PD presence was backbench deputy Mae Sexton.
"Deputy O'Donnell has left town," remarked Independent Finian McGrath.
The Green Party's John Gormley reminded Mr Cowen of Ms O'Donnell's landmark speech. "Does the Minister for Finance believe the Government has a special relationship with the Catholic Church?" he asked.
In what hardly amounted to a ringing endorsement of his Government colleague, Mr Cowen noted that under the constitutional treaty produced during the Republic's EU presidency, it was the intention of all governments to continue legitimate dialogue with faith communities on the basis of a mature relationship.
They sought this with all faiths in a pluralist society, he said. And he added pointedly: "It would be thoroughly illiberal if such a dialogue were not to take place."
The Opposition also wanted to know about the special relationship Minister of State for Transport Ivor Callely has with publicity. A photograph of Mr Callely recently appeared in newspaper advertisements on Operation Freeflow, designed to improve the flow of Dublin traffic during the Christmas season.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte read from the code of conduct for officeholders: "Holders of public office enjoy an enhanced public profile and should be mindful of the need to avoid the use of public resources in a way that could reasonably be construed as an inappropriate raising of profile in the context of a general election."
Mr Cowen remained impassive, as Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon ruled the matter out of order.
Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe suggested that they were observing "a code of misconduct" from the junior transport minister. Fine Gael colleague Bernard Allen remarked: "He is off the rails."
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil backbencher Ned O'Keeffe, a muted voice in the Dáil, if not the parliamentary party, these days, was observed taking a seat deep in the Opposition benches, well away from his party colleagues.